Two men were arrested following a tragic incident in New York City where a man was killed during a dispute over rent. The victim, 30-year-old Kristopher Samaroo, was beaten to death with a bat in his apartment on Saturday, November 30, according to police reports.
The arrested individuals, Omar Lamoni, 43, and Edwin Nina, 39, are facing serious charges related to the case. Lamoni is accused of second-degree assault and child endangerment, while Nina faces charges of second-degree assault and weapon possession.
Reports indicate that Lamoni was Samaroo’s landlord. According to Samaroo’s wife, Brittney Shears, their conflict arose from issues surrounding rent payments, particularly because they were experiencing repeated interruptions in their hot water service. She stated, “They keep saying that we’re not paying rent at the moment, but that’s far from the truth. [The landlord] accepts partial payment for rent because they keep cutting off my hot water.”
The violence erupted when Lamoni came to collect rent. A confrontation led to Samaroo being hit with a bat. During the arraignment of the suspects on December 3, a judge reviewed security footage of the attack.
A GoFundMe campaign has been established to support Shears and her children after losing their primary provider. In the remembrance of Samaroo, he is described as a caring father who devoted time and love to his daughters despite facing many challenges in his life.
Both Lamoni and Nina have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Lamoni was released under supervised conditions, while Nina was granted bail set at $10,000.
